Across the nation.

Van In Canal May End Mystery Of Teens Missing For 17 Years

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA — When Kimberly Marie Barnes vanished with four teenage friends on a summer night 17 years ago, her family thought the 16-year-old had run off to California.

Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies and relatives of the teens believe the mystery was over Sunday, two days after five human skulls were found in a mud-filled van dragged up from the muck of a 20-foot-deep canal.

"It was easier to not know," said Jamie Reffett, Kimberly's sister, visibly upset during a visit to the canal Sunday. "I could have lived with that the rest of my life."

The teens who disappeared that night were Barnes; John Paul Simmons, 18; Phillip Joseph Pompi, 19; Matthew George Henrich, 18; and William R. Briscoe, 18.

The 1976 Dodge, recovered with its roof crushed, was owned by Henrich, said sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller. Investigators found a driver's license that belonged to one of the teens.

"Now there are more questions in my head, like, why couldn't they get out of the van," said Lisa Zakovsky, Pompi's older sister. "There were five of them. You'd think at least one would be able to get out." Investigators say there's no indication of foul play.

Jamie Reffett's husband, Oakland Park police Lt. Ron Reffett, said he is convinced that Kimberly's remains were found. He told deputies about the missing teens after reading a newspaper account of the van's recovery.